It is recognized that a water utility must employ
standards and a system of practices to serve the public in an orderly
and effective manner. The supplying of water to a populace from a
common pipe system is a communal function. The water utility and the
individual consumer are involved in business transactions and other
obligations which mutually affect not only the individual and the
utility but also all others in a community.
The purpose of this chapter is two-fold: first,
to define the authority and responsibility of all Department personnel
in their relations with the consuming public; and second, to provide
the consuming public with a written statement of conditions under
which water service will be furnished and continued by the Department.
The following regulations set forth in this
chapter shall be considered as part of the contract of the Water Department
by and on behalf of the Town of Union and binding upon every person
who takes water supplied by the Department.
The regulations set forth in this chapter may
be amended, revised or repealed from time to time by the Town Board
of the Town of Union.
As used in this chapter, the following words,
terms and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this
section:
APPLICANT
The owner of property or his agent applying for water service.
CUSTOMER
The owner of real property receiving water service from the
Department.
DATE OF PRESENTATION
The date upon which a bill or notice is mailed or delivered
personally to the customer.
DEPARTMENT
The Water Department of the Town of Union.
DOMESTIC SERVICE
Provision of water for household residential purposes, including
water for sprinkling lawns, gardens and shrubbery, watering livestock,
washing vehicles and other similar and customary purposes.
INDUSTRIAL SERVICE
Provision of water to a customer for use in manufacturing
or processing activities.
IRRIGATION SERVICE
Provision of water for agricultural, floricultural or horticultural
use.
MAIN
Distribution and transmission pipelines located in streets,
highways or public ways which are used to serve the general public.
MAIN EXTENSION
Extension of distribution pipelines, exclusive of service
connections, beyond existing facilities.
PREMISES
The integral property or area, including improvements thereon,
to which water service is or will be provided.
SERVICE AREA
That area in which service is or will be furnished, as prescribed
and approved by the Water Resources Commission, Conservation Department,
State of New York, in a decision dated May 15, 1934, as the same may
have been or may be amended from time to time. The sale of water by
the Town to purchasers outside thereof is carried on under provisions
of the Town Law.
SERVICE CONNECTION
The pipe, valves and other facilities by means of which water
is conducted from distribution mains to the curb stop or curb shutoff
valve.
TARIFF SCHEDULE
The entire body of effective rates, rentals, charges and
regulations.
TEMPORARY SERVICE
A service for circuses, bazaars, fairs, construction work,
irrigation of vacant property and similar uses where, because of their
nature, consumption or use will not be regular or permanent.
All services installed by the utility shall
be classified as follows:
The types of service available from the Department
are:
Where service is desired for a multiple dwelling,
commercial or industrial use, a detailed plumbing plan showing service
supply, fixtures and equipment and any other water use facilities
must be submitted at the time of application.
The application is merely a written request
for service and does not bind the applicant to take service for any
particular length of time, nor does it bind the Department to give
service except under reasonable conditions.
The customer shall, at his own risk and expense,
furnish, install and keep in good and safe condition all equipment
that may be required for receiving, controlling, applying and utilizing
water, and the Department shall not be responsible for any loss or
damage caused by the improper installation of any such water equipment
or the negligence, want of care or wrongful act of the customer or
any of his tenants, agents, employees, contractors, licensees or permittees
in installing, maintaining, using, operating or interfering with such
equipment. The Department shall not be responsible for damage to property
caused by spigots, faucets, valves and other equipment that are open
when water is turned on originally or when the water is turned on
after a temporary shutdown.
The customer shall be liable for any damage
to a meter or other equipment or property owned or maintained by the
Department which is caused by an act of the customer or his tenants,
agents, employees, contractors, licensees or permittees, including
the breaking or destruction of locks by the customer or others on
or near a meter or any damage to a meter that may result from hot
water or steam from a boiler or heater or frozen meter on the customer's
premises. The Department shall promptly be reimbursed by the customer
for any such damage within five days after receipt of the bill.
The Department or its duly authorized agents
shall at all reasonable times have the right to enter on the customer's
premises for any purpose properly connected with the service of water
to the customer.
The Department shall not be liable for damage
resulting from an interruption in service. Temporary shutdowns may
be resorted to by the Department for improvements and repairs. Whenever
possible and as time permits, all customers affected will be notified
prior to such shutdowns. Where possible, repairs or improvements shall
be prosecuted rapidly and at such times as will cause the least inconvenience
to customers.
Notices from the Department to a customer will
normally be given in writing and either delivered to him or mailed
to him at his last known address. Where conditions warrant and in
emergencies, the Department may resort to notification either by telephone
or messenger.
Notice from the customer to the Department may
be given by him or his authorized representative orally or in writing.
Resale of water is not permitted.
There shall be no physical connection between the public potable water system and any other system without a written permit from the Department. Any connection must meet the requirements of Chapter
5 of the New York State Health Department Sanitary Code.
Any person violating any provision of this chapter
shall be punished by a fine of not more than $250 or imprisonment
for not more than 15 days, or both.